Viral video emerges of Indian fans browsing for escorts at Lord's Test match | WATCH

A video capturing two Indian cricket fans browsing an escort website during the live England vs India Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground has gone viral, raising serious questions about spectator conduct at one of the sport’s most hallowed venues.

No formal action has been taken so far, though the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has confirmed it is reviewing the incident under its code of conduct.

What was seen in the viral video?

The video clip, which surfaced on social media on 2 August, showed two middle-aged Indian men standing near the Warner Stand at Lord’s. Rather than watching the gripping Test match, they appeared to be scrolling through an escort service website on their phones. The footage quickly spread across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram, with many users mocking or condemning the behaviour.

The authenticity of the video has not been officially verified, and it remains unclear if the incident occurred during the recent Lord’s Test (which ended on 29 July) or an earlier match.

The MCC, which manages Lord’s, acknowledged the video and has launched an internal review. While the act in question does not qualify as illegal, the club deemed the behaviour “inappropriate” and contrary to the Spirit of Cricket—a central principle upheld by the MCC.

A spokesperson stated that ground staff have been advised to monitor the crowd more closely for non-cricket-related phone activity, and the club will reinforce guidelines around fan conduct inside the stadium. No arrests or ejections were made at the time of the incident.

Public response to the incident has been mixed. While some on social media found humour in the clip, many others expressed outrage over the disrespect shown to the game and the iconic venue.

Reddit threads discussing the video called it “cringe-inducing” and “unbelievable”, with several fans calling for stricter mobile phone policies at cricket grounds. On X, one user wrote, “People pay hundreds to attend a Test at Lord’s and this is how they behave?”

Others highlighted the broader issue of fan etiquette and the need for tighter supervision of phone usage during matches.

While the video did not disrupt play, it garnered more online attention than several key moments of the Test itself. England had narrowly defeated India by 22 runs in a tense finish on day five. Despite the match’s intensity, the off-field controversy has overshadowed post-match coverage in some media circles.

The MCC will continue its review over the coming days, and while no official sanctions have been announced, stadium guidelines are likely to be updated or enforced more stringently. The BCCI has not issued a formal comment but reiterated that fan behaviour should reflect the dignity of international cricket venues.